Machine for reproducing and transmitting pictures



April 15, 1930. M. L. D. M FARLA-NE El AL 1,754,688

MACHINE FOR REPRODUCING AND TRANSMITTING PICTURES Filed 001;. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EYS April 15, 1930. M L, D MCFARLANE ET AL 1',754,688

MACHINE FOR REPRODUGING AND TRANSMITTING PICTURES Filed Oct. 7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mill-Ill TTORN EY-S A ril 15, 1930. M. D. MCFARLANE ET AL 1,754,683

MACHINE FOR REPRODUCING AND TRANSMITTING PICTURES Filed Oct. 7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet Ha m w??? INVENTOR 5 BY ,(n 1% ATTORNEY J April 15, 1930.

M. L. D. M FARLANE ET AL MACHINE FOR REPRODUCING AND TRANSMITTING PICTURES Filed Oct. 7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR 8 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE IAYNABD LESLIE DEEDES HOIABLANE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND HARRY GUY m THOLOMEW, 01' LONDON, ENGLAND CHINE FOB BEPRODUCING AND TRANSMITTING- PIC'I'QRIS Application filed October 7, 1928. Serial No. 140,048.

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for receiving and transmitting pictures and the like by means of a perforated tape having groups of perforations cprrespondmg to the tone values of successive small areas of the picture which is being tarnsmitted or received.

Whenever we refer in the claims to a picture, it is to be understood that we include written and printed matter of all kinds, etc.

One of the objects of this invention is to devise certain improvements in the system which is generally shown in the following patents British Patent No. 195577 to Bartholomew and McFarlane;

British Patent No. 197402 to Bartholomew and McFarlane;

Britsh Patent No. 209816 to Bartholomew and McFarlane.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ap aratus whereby the shaft upon which the picture to be transmitted is mounted (or upon which the sensitive film to receive a transmitted picture is mounted) is given a longitudinal movement which can be varied with great accuracy and precision, while utilizin a relatively coarse external threading whic can be formed without 'great accuracy. In this respect and in other respects this invention is not limited to the particular system for transmitting pictures set forth in the above mentioned patents, but it is applicable to other systems for receiving or transmitting pictures or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide mechanism for recording the. end of each row of small areas of the picture, by means of successive markings along the tape, so that errors in transmission or' reception can be readily checked up.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the number of perforations corresponding to each row of. small areas of the picture can be varied.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple and efiicient mechanism whereby the spacing of successive rows or groups of message perforations in the tape can be varied.

Other objects of this invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of this invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a top view.

Fig. 2 is a side view.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of F ig. 1.

ig. 4 is a top view of the gear assembly.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the mechanism for making the perforations.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of certain of the gearing.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the mechanism for disconnecting the punch bar while the machine is being used as a receiver.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of the selector and punch mechanism, Fig. 10 being a sect-ion on the line 1010 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 shows a strip of tape perforated according to this invention.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the relay mechanism for making the end of the row perforations.

The device comprises a casing C having a main drive shaft 29 to which the drive wheel 2 is connected. The drive wheel 2 is driven from any suitable source of ower.

The main drive shaft 29 is provided with a spiral gear 30 and with a worm 31.

n externally threaded shaft 3 is provided and the drum to which the picture to be transmitted is connected, is mounted upon the threaded shaft 3 in the usual manner. In apparatus of this type it is necessary that the shaft 3 should be given a regulated longitudinal movement while it is being revolved, and this longitudinal movement must be ve accurate, and it is highly desirable to be able to vary it, dependentupon the type of picture which is being transmitted. If the device is being used as a receiving mechanism,

then the sensitive film or other medium upon.

which the picture is to be formed is likewise mounted upon a drum connected to the externally threaded shaft 3 and these exter- 110.11 threaded shafts of the receiving and sen ing mechanism must operate in perfect synchronism. We have not illustrated the drum to which the picture to be transmitted is connected, because this in itself is well known in the art.

The longitudinal movement of the external- 1y threaded shaft 3 is regulated as follows-:

As shown in Fig. 3, the spiral gear 30 meshes with a gear 32. As shown in Figi14, the gear 32 is mounted upon a shaft 46 so t at the gear 32 and the shaft 46 can freely turn with respect to each other. The gear 32 is integral with a sleeve 34 and with a second gear 33 so that the said gear 33 turns in unison with the gear 32, and independently of the transverse shaft 46. As further shown in Fig. 4, the gear 33 meshes with the gear 35 mounted upon a shaft 40. The gear 35 is provided with dogs 36 and these dogs are adapted to actuate a slidable sleeve 39 which is splined to the shaft 40. The gear 35 can freely turn with respect to the shaft 40, so that the gear 35 only actuates the shaft when the do 36 of the side gear 35 enga e the slidable s eeve 39. As shown in Fig. 3, the manually operated handle 1 is provided with a yoke 39 which engages the sleeve 39, so that the sleeve 39 can be slid upon the shaft 40 so as to cause it to move to an operative or an ino erative position with respect to the dogs 36.

en the sleeve 39 is engaged by the dogs 36, the second transverse shaft 40 is operated at a relatively high speed and the shaft 40 is operated at such relatively high speed when the device is utilized as a receiving mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 3, the worm 31 meshes with a gear 37, and as shown in Fig. 4, the gear 37 is provided with dogs 38 which are adapted to engage with and actuate the sleeve 39. When the sleeve 39 is shifted by means of the handle 1 so that said sleeve 39 is engaged by the dogs 38 of the slow speed gear 37, then the shaft 40 is operated at low speed and this is done when the device is transmitting.

The ratio between the respective high 5 eds and low speeds thus secured is preferably about 20 to 1, and the ratio of 59 to 3 has been found effective in actual practice.

A gear 41 is mounted upon the shaft 40, so as to turn in unison therewith. The gear 41 meshes with the gear 42 which is connected to the shaft 46 before mentioned. The shaft 46 is mounted in ball-bearings 43 and similar ball-bearings are provided whenever they are found desirable. In addition to the gear 42, the shaft 46 has the ars 44 and 45 fixed thereto so that the shaft 46 and the gears 42, 44 and 45 turn in unison. As shown in Fig.4, the gear 44 meshes with a gear 47 and this gear 47 is provided with an internal projection which projects within the longitudinal slot of the externally threaded shaft 3 so that the revolution of the gear 47 simultaneously revolves the shaft 3, whilerpermittin the free relative lon itudinal movement of t e externally threa ed shaft 3.

As shown in Fig. 6, the gear 45 which is held in position by a nut 28, meshes with an upper gear 48 mounted u on a shaft 27, the gear 48 being omitted in Fig. 4 for the sake of clearness. The shaft 27 has a gear 49 mounted thereon, so that the gears 49 and 48 turn in unison. The gear 49 meshes with a gear 50 which is mounted upon a short shaft to which the gear 51 is connected, so that the gears 50 and 51 turn in unison. The gear 51 meshes with a lower gear 52 and this gear 52 is provided with a boss 53 rovided with an internal thread corresponding to the thread of the externally threaded shaft 3. The external threading of the shaft 3 is associated with the internal threading of the boss 53, so that the boss 53 acts like a nut for supporting the shaft 3.

It is clear that if the boss 53 is held stationary while the shaft 3 is revolved, that the longitudinal movement of the shaft 3 for each complete revolution thereof will be equal to the pitch of the external threading on the shaft 3. However, if the said boss 53 is re volved while the shaft 3 is revolved, then a differential longitudinal movement will be imparted to the shaft 3 which can be very delicately and precisely regulated by varying the relation between the relative speeds of revolution of the boss 53 and the shaft 3.

Removable bearings 54 and 55 are provided for the externally threaded shaft 3.

It is obvious that by varying the ratio between the gears 45 and 48, for example, that the speed of revolution of the gear 52 and of its boss 53 can be regulated so as to regulate the longitudinal movement of the shaft 3 with respect to the turning movement thereof. In this manner, the pitch of the relative spiral path between the picture and the associated D reading means, can be varied.

It it also obvious that by changing the ratios between the gears 41 and 42, for exs ample, that the speed of revolution of the shaft 40 can be varied when the device is being operated, so as to change the number of rows of perforations per each revolution of the shaft 3, as will be more fully explained hereafter. When the device is used as a receiver or reproducer, the sprocket for feeding the tape is connected to shaft 40, as shown in British Patent No. 209,816.

As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 40 is provided with a cam 56 which forces the tappet pin 23 outwardly at each revolution of the shaft 40.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the outer end of the pin 23 is adapted to abut the horizontal arm 24 of a lever which is pivotally mounted upon a vertical member 25 connected to bosses 25' and 25 of of the casing.

The parts are shown in Fig. 2 in the operative position whereby the lever 24 is operated by the movement of the tappet pin 23, when the device is bein used as a transmitter. On the contrary, in Figs. 7 and 8, the

arts are shown in the inoperative osltion 111 which the lever 24 is not actuate by the movement of the tappet pin 23, namely, when the device is being used for receiving.

The vertical extension of the lever 24 is provided with a projection 24 which is adapted to fit withma corresponding recess in a lower actuated member 24 which is also pivotally mounted upon 25. A compression spring 26 is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, to keep the members 24 and 24 in the position shown in Fig. 2, when these parts are in the operative position illustrated. In such operative position the movement of the tappet pin '23 causes the actuation of the punch rod 21, which is returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a compression spring 22.

As shown in Fig. 1, the punch rod 21 abuts the hammer 10 which is pivotally mounted at 9.

A series of electromagnetically controlled selectors 4 are slidably mounted one above the other in the hammer 10 as shown in Fig. 9, for example, so that these selectors 4 vibrate in unison with the hammer 10. A punch block 11 has a series of punches 12 slidably mounted therein. In the embodiment shown herein, there are five message punchers 12, and in addition a punch 12' of greater length than the punch 12 is provided, the purpose of this punch 12 being to punch feeding perforations 60 in the tape T, which is illustrated in Fig. 11.

The tape '1 is fed between the punch block 11 and a guide 14 which is adapted to receive the punch-out discs of paper. A feed roller 15 is provided forthe tape and a guide member manipulated by a handle 16 1s provided for keeping the tape T in close contact with the roller 15. The hammer 10 is provided with a feed pawl 17 which actuates a ratchet connected to the feed roller 15, so that the tape is intermittently fed past the punch block 11, so that the tape is stationary when the punches are operated. The feed pawl 17 is provided with the usual spring 18 and the hammer 10 is provided with the usual return spring 19.

As shown in Fig. 3, the gear wheel 47 which turns in unison with the shaft 3, is provided with'a lug 61 which is adapted to contact with the tapered end of a pin 62 so as to outwardly force the said pin. This pin 62 is adapted to actuate the spring 20 so that it makes contact with the member 19. Hence, the members 19 and 20 contact once for every revolution of the externally threaded shaft 3.

As shown in Fig. 12/, a line switch 66 is provided in the circuit. Assuming, for example, that the left-hand terminal of the battery (or other source of electric power) 64 is the plus terminal, then the current does plunger 68 downwardly from the position shown 1n Fig. 12. The plunger 68 is con nected to contact members 67 and hence when the plunger 68 is moved downwardly, the first, third and fifth pairs of contacts controlling the circuits of the respective selector magnets 8 (counting from the top of the view shown in Fig. 12) will be closed, and the second and. fourth pair of contacts will be'opened. The result of this will be to produce the signal or end of the row perforations 63 shown in Fig. 11, there bein three of these perforations in .this speci c embodiment. 1

The tell-tale lamp 65 is connected in shunt with the solenoid 80, to the source of electric power 64, when the members 19 and 20 contact with each other. The member 10 is provided with an anvil 10 to actuate the punch 12, independently of the selectors 4.

The selectors 4 are actuated by a series of selector magnates 8 which are mounted on a bar 6 and which are supplied with current through leads 5 from any suitable source of current. The selector mechanism per se has not been fully illustrated herein because in itself it is old and well known. As described 1n the patents previously mentioned, the said magnets are connected to sources of electric current whose circuits include hoto-electric means which are influenced y the light values of the respective small areas of the picture which is being transmitted. Hence, the tone value of such a small area or group of small areas corresponds to the number of selectors which are actuated by their respective magnets.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without de arting from its spirit.

.As stated in the previously issued patents above mentioned, the respective rows of erforations on the tape T each correspon to the tone value of a small area of the picture or the like which is to be transmitted.

Whenever any parts herein are referred to by numbers, either in the description or in the claims, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form herein illustrated.

1. In a machine for reproducing and trans mitting pictures, the combination of a threaded shaft, a revoluble member having an internal threading adapted to co-operate with the threading of the said shaft, a drive shaft, and connecting means intermediate said drive shaft and said externall threaded shaft, and between said drive sha and said internally threaded member, whereby the said externally threaded shaft can be given a differential lon 'tudinal movement.

2. In a mac ine for reproducing and transmitting pictures, the combination of a revoluble shaft adapted to have a longitudinal movement and separate drive means adapted to cause separate lon itudinal movements to be impressed upon t e said shaft, whereby the total longitudinal movement of the said shaft is the result of the two said separate longitudinal movements.

3. In a machine for reproducing and transmitting pictures, the combination of an externally threaded shaft having a longitudinal roove therein, a member through which said shaft passes, said member having an internal threading adapted to co-operate with the external threading of the said shaft, a gear having a projection fitting within the longitudinal groove of the said shaft, whereby the said shaft and the said gear adapted to turn together and to have a free relative longitudinal movement, and independent lriving means for the said gear and the said internally threaded member.

4. In a machine for reproducing and transmitting ictures, the combination of a revoluble sha t mounted to move longitudinally, two revoluble drive members connected to the said shaft, the turning of each of said revoluble drive members being adapted to impart a longitudinal movement to the said shaft, a drive shaft, and connections between the said drive shaft and each of the said revoluble members, the said connections embodying speed change gears whereby the longitudinal movement 0 the said shaft can be controlled.

5. In a machine for reproducing and transmitting ictures, the combination of a revoluble sha t mounted to move longitudinally, two revoluble drive members connected to the said shaft, the turning of each of said revoluble drive members being ada ted to impart a longitudinal movement to t e said shaft, a second shaft connected to each of the said drive members, a slidable sleeve mounted u n the second shaft and adapted to turn t erewith, a drive shaft, a plurality of gears connected to said drive shaft and adapted to turn at different relative speeds with respect to said drive shaft, driving members connected to each of the said gears, and manually operable means for connectin the said sleeve to the driving members 0 either of said gears.

6. In a machine for forming a punch tape having a series of perforations each of which corresponds to the tone value of a small area of a picture, the combination of a shaft mounted to move longitudinally, punch operating mechanism connected to a second shaft,

two revoluble drive members connected to the first mentioned shaft, each of said drive members being adapted to cause the longitudinal movement of the said first shaft, a drive shaft, connections including speed change-gears between said drive shaft and the second shaft, and other connections including speed change gears between the said drive shaft and one of the said two revoluble drive members, whereby the speed of longitudinal movement of the first shaft and the speed of revolution of the second shaft can be independently varied.

7 In a machine for reproducing and transmitting pictures, the combination of a drive shaft 29, a spiral gear 30 connected thereto, a worm 31 connected to said shaft 29, a gear 32 meshing with said spiral gear 30, said gear 32 being connected to a sleeve 34 having a second gear 33 connected therewith, a second. shaft 46, the sleeve 34 being mounted on the second shaft 46 so that said sleeve 34 can be turned with respect to the shaft 46, a third shaft 40 having gears comprising a third gear 37 and a fourth gear 35 mounted thereon and free to turn with respect thereto, said gear 37 being intermeshed with said worm 31 and said gear 35 being intermeshed with the said second gear 33, a second sleeve 39 located on and longitudinally movable on the third said shaft 40 and adapted to turn therewith, driving means connected to each of the fourth and third gears 35 and 37, manually operable means adapted to shift the said second sleeve 39 so that it turns in unison either with the said fourth gear 35 or the said third gear 37 a fifth gear 41 connected to the third shaft 40 so as to turn therewith, a sixth gear 42 in mesh with the said fifth gear 41 and mounted upon the second shaft 46 so as to turn therewith, additional gears comprising a seventh gear 44 and an eighth gear 45 mounted upon the second shaft 46 so as to turn therewith, punch means operated by the third shaft 40, an externally threaded shaft 3, said externally threaded shaft 3 passing through a member having an internal threading adapted to cooperate with the external threading of the shaft 3, and drive means for both said threaded shaft 3 and the said internally threaded member operable from the third shaft 46, the drive means for the said internally threaded member embodying speed change gearing.

8. In a machine for reproducing and transmitting pictures, punch mechanism adapted to punch a tape, means adapted to feed the tape in a path adjacent to said punch mechanism so that the operation of said punch mechanism will perforate said tape, a revoluble shaft, means adapted to revolve said shaft and to simultaneously impart a longitudinal movement thereto, a second shaft adapted to revolve in unison with the first mentioned shaft, and driving mechanism for said punch mechanism operated by said second shaft,

said driving mechanism comprising a twopiece member adapted to have its parts associated in operative relationship to cause the actuation of said-punch mechanism and to have its parts associated in inoperative association to permit said second shaft to revolve without operating the punch mechanism.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which the two-piece member comprises two lever members adapted to oscillate about a common axis, one of said members being longitu dinally movable and being also turnable with respect to the other member so that the last mentioned member can be placed in an inoperative position.

10. In a machine for reproducing and transmitting pictures, the combination of a revoluble shaft, means adapted to impart a revoluble movement to the said shaft and to simultaneously impart a longitudinal movement thereto, punch mechanism adapted to punch a tape, means adapted to feed tape in a path adjacent said punch mechanism so that the operation of said punch mechanism will perforate said tape, said punch mechanism comprising a plurality of individual and separately operable punches, driving means for the said punch mechanism, control mechanism for said driving means and adapted to select the unches operated at a given impulse of the sai driving means, said control mechanism including means adapted to select a predetermined number of the said punches for operation at a predetermined point in each revolution of the said shaft.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which said driving means includes a hammer having a to-and-fro movement, selectors associated with said hammer, electromagnets associated with the said selectors and adapted to move the same, and in which the said control mechanism includes 'a switch operable at a predetermined point in each revolution of the shaft to cause the energizing of a predetermined number of the said electromagnets. f

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

MAYNARD LESLIE DEEDES IcFARLANE.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY GUY BARTHOLOHI'. 

